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Use taxes to achieve renewable energy, CSO tasks govt

Michael Simire
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Use taxes to achieve renewable energy, CSO tasks govt

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has urged the Federal Government to leverage the nation’s tax system to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Tesla-solar-Hawaii
Renewable energy: Solar panels

Speaking at a workshop on “Fossil Fuel Transition Using the Instrumentality of Taxation” in Benin on Thursday, May 8, 2025, Comrade Auwal Musa, CISLAC’s Executive Director, warned that Nigeria risked missing its NetZero2050 target without bold fiscal reforms.

The workshop, supported by Tax Justice Network Africa and hosted in partnership with Connected Advocacy, brought together civil society leaders, climate advocates and some media representatives in Edo State.

Musa, popularly known as Rafsanjani, challenged government agencies to implement Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan with urgency and transparency.

“Are we moving swiftly enough to meet our climate goals? Are our policies and actions aligned with the global climate agenda,” he asked.

Musa asserted that Nigeria must phase out fossil fuel subsidies and use taxation to incentivise clean energy while protecting the livelihoods of those affected by the transition.

“Nigeria’s fossil fuel dependence has not only degraded the environment but deepened poverty in oil-producing communities.

“Tax justice is a powerful tool to correct this imbalance and create a greener economy,” he said.

Musa, queried the government on the status of the energy transition plan, the mechanisms for stakeholder engagement, and strategies for ensuring a just transition that protect workers and vulnerable communities.

“The energy transition must not repeat the mistakes of the past. Communities must be part of the conversation, and policies must be inclusive,” he said.

In his goodwill message, Mr. Israel Orekha, Executive Director, Connected Advocacy, said the workshop aimed to empower civil society to engage more effectively with government policy on climate and energy.

“Edo State, being oil-producing, stands at the heart of this national debate.

“We need to ensure our communities benefit from the shift to clean energy and not suffer because of it,” he said.

Orekha said Nigeria had a fantastic policy framework for combating climate change, but was poor in implementation.

He called for more awareness creation on climate change and its impact among the locals.

In his lecture, Mr. Chinedu Bassey, an expert in taxation, called for increased taxes on gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products to discourage fossil fuel consumption in the country.

He described taxation as a good mechanism for energy transition, while redirecting the funds towards clean energy initiatives.

He advocated taxes on inefficient energy-consuming appliances and technologies in Nigeria.

The discussion focused on how Nigeria can use progressive taxation to disincentivise fossil fuel exploration and redirect resources into clean energy investments.

The event concluded with a call for sustained advocacy and deeper collaboration between civil society, government, and the private sector to deliver a just and equitable energy future for Nigeria.

By Usman Aliyu

Lagos marks 39 buildings for demolition over encroachment

Michael Simire
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Lagos marks 39 buildings for demolition over encroachment

The Lagos State Government (LASG) has marked 39 buildings in Eti-Osa Local Government Area for demolition over encroachment on the Right of Way (RoW).

Tokunbo Wahab
Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, made this known while speaking with journalists after a drainage enforcement inspection visit to Ikota River on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Wahab said the buildings would be demolished because of their encroachment on the RoW of Ikota Riverbank.

He also issued indefinite quit notices to occupants of the affected properties, urging them to vacate and relocate their belongings before the demolition exercise begins.

The affected buildings are in Oral Extension Estate and Westend, Megamound Estate at the Lekki axis of the state.

Tokunbo said 18 out of the 39 marked buildings were set for total demolition, adding that eight was for partial removal, while 13 other buildings would be completely brought down.

“We received several complaints. We have been on this for a while.

“We found out at the ministry level that while we were engaging to find a win-win solution that would mitigate environmental impact without heavily affecting the residents, some developers continued pushing back the RoW and altering the alignment of the Ikota River.

“So, we had a digital footprint of the situation of things, and we had to come there today. What we met on the ground is not good at all,” he said.

He added that the ministry had previously visited Oral Estate, saying that the current situation was far worse than what was observed last year.

The commissioner, however, faulted some developers of continuing construction while engaging the government in talks for a resolution.

“We need to keep telling our people. You don’t put money over humanity. What they are doing is about self-interest, and it’s painful.

“For some of those who developed those places, I am going to keep telling them that this is not going to work.

“But bear in mind, you can’t also let people go through pain. Those tenants like you saw, it was emotional for some of us here.

“But that should not also cloud our sense of reasoning and fairness. So, we’ll have a win-win situation,” he said.

Wahab added that while they were engaging the government, they were pushing back the RoW, which was not a good one.

“It shows that while they are engaging government to find a win-win solution, to redesign some of their primary alignments and secondary collectors, they were also going to push further back the RoW for the Ikota River and that is not good for anybody.

“So, we’ve called the machines in, and then we have asked them to tuck all the walls and then push them back from further encroachment.

“We also visited Westend and Mega Mount, where we saw reclamation activities beyond the approved limits,” he said.

Wahab said there was a need for proper drainage clearance and Environmental Impact Assessment documents for any reclamation projects, warning that further violations would not be tolerated.

“We have asked them to stop pushing back the sand and submit the necessary documents. If they don’t comply, we will wield the big stick,” he said.

On the number of affected buildings, Wahab said that 18 buildings were located along the first stretch, with another 13 after the canal.

“At Westend Estate, eight buildings are marked for demolition.

“We will come back and see how far we’ve gone. So, the notice is not timed. Like I’m telling them, just find a way to move your things, and then we’ll have a balance,” he said.

By Olaitan Idris

Gates Foundation to spend $200bn over next 20 years to improve lives

Michael Simire
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Gates Foundation to spend $200bn over next 20 years to improve lives

On the occasion of its 25th year, the Gates Foundation on Thursday, May 8, 2025, made a new commitment to accelerate its mission to help all people live healthy, productive lives by spending $200 billion over the next 20 years.

Bill Gates
Bill Gates, Chair, Gates Foundation

The decision, it was gathered, marks a major acceleration in the foundation’s work and sets a new date of 2045 to sunset its operations. The historic announcement, which represents the largest philanthropic commitment in modern history, was shared in a post by foundation Chair, Bill Gates.

“There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people. That is why I have decided to give my money back to society much faster than I had originally planned,” writes Gates. “I will give away virtually all my wealth through the Gates Foundation over the next 20 years to the cause of saving and improving lives around the world.”

The accelerated timeline was affirmed by the foundation’s board of directors with a change to the foundation’s charter, which had said the organisation would sunset 20 years after Gates’ death. The funding pledged exceeds the foundation’s current endowment, with the balance coming over time from Gates’ personal fortune.

“A few years ago, I began to rethink that (timeline). More recently, with the input from our board, I now believe we can achieve the foundation’s goals on a shorter timeline, especially if we double down on key investments and provide more certainty to our partners,” writes Gates.

While the foundation’s strategies are not changing, over the next two decades, the foundation will work together with its partners to make as much progress as possible towards three primary goals:

  • Help end preventable deaths of moms and babies
  • Ensure the next generation grows up without having to suffer from deadly infectious
  • diseases
  • Lift millions of people out of poverty, putting them on a path to prosperity

“During the first 25 years of the Gates Foundation – powered in part by the generosity of Warren Buffett – we gave away more than $100 billion,” writes Gates. “Over the next two decades, we will double our giving. The exact amount will depend on the markets and inflation, but I expect the foundation will spend more than $200 billion between now and 2045. This figure includes the balance of the endowment and my future contributions.”

The shift in the sunset date is driven by urgency and opportunity. The foundation hopes to capitalize on the extraordinary global progress in health and development between 2000 and 2025 – a period when child deaths were halved, deaths from deadly infectious diseases were significantly reduced, and hundreds of millions of people rose out of poverty.

Since 2000, the Gates Foundation contributed to saving 82 million lives through its support of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Together with its partners, the foundation also helped develop more than 100 innovations, including vaccines, diagnostic tools, and treatments designed to meet the needs of people living in low- and middle-income countries. Taken together, these innovations – and the people who made them possible – helped change the trajectory of global health. Still, there are hundreds more innovations in the pipeline.

“The needs at this time are greater than any we’ve seen in the lifetime of the foundation, but the achievements of the past 25 years have shown the tremendous progress that is still possible,” said Mark Suzman, CEO and board member of the Gates Foundation. “That’s why, in the next two decades, working in close collaboration with our partners, we’ll deploy these new innovations and apply 25 years of learnings and progress to making an even bigger difference.”

This announcement comes amidst multiple years of stagnant or, in some cases, backsliding progress on global health metrics. Governments around the world have announced tens of billions of dollars in cuts to aid funding that stand to have devastating consequences for the world’s poorest people.

At the same time, scientific breakthroughs, powerful innovations, and new tools – from vaccines to AI – are creating opportunities to save and improve lives faster than ever before.

“The truth is, there have never been more opportunities to help people live healthier, more prosperous lives. Advances in technology are happening faster than ever, especially with artificial intelligence on the rise,” writes Gates. “Even with all the challenges that the world faces, I’m optimistic about our ability to make progress – because each breakthrough is yet another chance to make someone’s life better.”

The 20-year timeline also allows the foundation to further its work strengthening the philanthropic sector. This concerted effort aims to ensure the institutions that outlast it – from nonprofits to local health institutions to multilateral partnerships—have the runway they need to plan for the future.

Additional areas of focus for the foundation’s work continue to be:

  • Helping U.S. students have pathways to opportunity
  • Strengthening digital public infrastructure so more people have access to the financial and
  • social services that foster inclusive economies and open, competitive markets
  • Applying new uses of artificial intelligence, which can accelerate the quality and reach of
  • services, from health to education to agriculture
  • Lifting up women, their families, and their communities by advancing gender equality to
  • help women access education, health care, and financial services

“The work of making the world better is and always has been a group effort. I am proud of everything the foundation accomplished during its first 25 years, but I also know that none of it would have been possible without fantastic partners,” says Gates. “I believe we can leave the next generation better off and better prepared to fight the next set of challenges.”

Earlier this year, the foundation announced its largest budget ever, in line with the foundation’s commitment to reach overall annual distributions of US$9 billion next year.

Climate change: Plateau to plant 200,000 economic trees

Michael Simire
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Climate change: Plateau to plant 200,000 economic trees

The Plateau Agricultural Development Programme (PADP) says it will plant 200,000 economic trees across the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state this year to mitigate effect of climate change.

Plateau State
Participants at the training on Smart Agriculture organised for women in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State

Mr. Ishaku Jilemsam, PADP, Programme Manager, disclosed this on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at the ongoing training on Smart Agriculture organised for women in Bassa Local Government Area of the state.

The training is organised by Mr. Nuhu Yakubu, the Special Adviser to Gov. Caleb Mutfwang on Sustainable Technology and Carbon Credit Management.

Jilemsam said that the move was part of measures aimed at tackling climate change in the state.

“You will recall that we planted 100,000 economic trees in 2024, this year, we will plant 200,000.

“We realise that if you plant just any kind of trees, farmers might still cut them down, but if you plant trees with economic benefits, they are likely not to cut them down.

“I have made requests to all the local government chairmen to provide us with 500 hectares of land each for this purpose.

“So far, some of the chairmen have come forward to say they are making available the land,” he said.

Jilemsam, who commended the special adviser for organising the training, said that the move would promote eco-friendly agricultural practices.

He said that climate change and security challenges had necessitated the need for farmers to embrace smart agricultural practices.

Jilemsam, who advised farmers to pay close attention to weather forecast, also called on them to plant early maturing crops.

“This year we are going to have a shorter rainy season. You know that most of our farmers depend on rain, so shorter rainy season means you should get early maturing varieties.

“Farmers should get drought resistant varieties that do not need so much water to mature, we advise our people to practice sack farming at home. It’s working,” Jilemsam said.

Earlier, Yakubu in his remarks said that the exercise aimed at responding to the challenges of climate change.

He explained that the training would equip the women with the necessary skills and knowledge to practice eco-friendly farming.

The special adviser added that the exercise would enable government to generate accurate data towards proper planning.

By Polycarp Auta

Minister worries National Assembly summonses distract oil firms from core work

Michael Simire
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Minister worries National Assembly summonses distract oil firms from core work

Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has expressed concern over the frequent summonses issued by the National Assembly to international oil companies (IOCs) and indigenous operators, specifically the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG).

Heineken Lokpobiri
Heineken Lokpobiri

He said that these summonses often address issues beyond the companies’ primary operational responsibilities, diverting their focus and potentially hindering their core activities.

Speaking during the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) Luncheon at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Houston, Texas, U.S., the minister described the practice as unnecessary and counterproductive.

Lokpobiri expressed concern that frequent and irrelevant summonses were discouraging investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

“One of the biggest disincentives to investment in this industry is the excessive number of summonses issued by the National Assembly, often over issues that do not concern the companies,” he said.

Lokpobiri appealed to lawmakers to collaborate with stakeholders to foster a more investment-friendly environment.

“We urge the National Assembly to work with us to change this narrative.

“These companies are being summoned by committees, such as procurement, which have no direct connection to the oil and gas industry.

“Some of these inquiries even relate to events that occurred over 30 years ago,” he said.

The minister warned that, in today’s competitive global oil landscape, Nigeria can no longer afford practices that drive away investors.

“Other African countries now offer viable alternatives. When IOCs leave Nigeria, they invest elsewhere on the continent.

“If investments don’t happen here, our people lose. Our economy suffers.

“Why are companies like Total, Chevron, and Shell being summoned for procurement issues that do not concern them? These actions have not led to any tangible improvements in the sector,” Lokpobiri said.

In his remarks, Mr. Wole Ogunsanya, Chairman of PETAN, advocated for African collaboration on local content.

Ogunsanya emphasised the significance of Nigeria’s Local Content Law, which he described as a game-changer for indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry.

“The Local Content Law enabled many Nigerian companies to engage across the value chain, from upstream to downstream.

“It removed entry barriers and allowed local firms to gain the experience and capacity to compete effectively,” Ogunsanya noted.

According to him, Nigeria’s approach is now being adopted across Africa.

“Countries like Angola have developed similar frameworks. In February, stakeholders across the continent agreed to establish the African Content Organisation.

“The goal is to share knowledge, equipment, and training to address Africa’s energy poverty.

“The African Content Organisation, he said, will be officially launched at the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia next year.

“This initiative aims to empower indigenous companies, create jobs, and grow Africa’s GDP. Ultimately, it’s about improving lives across the continent,” he said.

Ogunsanya, while explaining the importance of energy access, said: “Countries with high energy consumption enjoy better health, cleaner environments, and longer life expectancy.

“Increasing per capita energy consumption in Africa is critical to improving education, healthcare, and overall quality of life.

“We must come together as a continent to solve our own energy challenges,” he added.

By Yunus Yusuf

Convert forests to military bases to prevent insurgents’ occupation – Ganduje tells govt

Michael Simire
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Convert forests to military bases to prevent insurgents’ occupation – Ganduje tells govt

The All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, said converting forests to military bases would prevent further insurgents’ occupation and improve national security in the country.

Abdullahi Ganduje
Abdullahi Ganduje

Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of APC, made the suggestion in Damaturu, Yobe State, during a condolence visit to the state over the recent terrorists’ attack on a military formation in Buni-Gari.

Ganduje, who led a delegation of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), said the problem at hand was a national issue that demands urgent attention and collective response.

He said that the unfortunate attack was a deliberate distraction to divert the attention of the state from developmental goals to emergency responses.

The national chairman called for a change in the Nigeria’s national security strategy, saying the use of technology and surveillance in the forest which had become hideouts for criminal elements was paramount.

“Forests that are meant to protect the ecosystem have now become criminal colonies.

“We must liberate these forests. Surveillance cameras and military establishments should be installed to prevent further occupation by insurgents,” he said.

Ganduje, who had similar issue during his tenure as governor of Kano State where he established a military training ground in Falgore forest to neutralise criminal activities, also encouraged Yobe to explore the possibility of adopting same strategy.

The national chairman, however, commended Gov. Mai Mala Buni’s achievements on security despite the challenges posed by insurgency.

Ganduje expressed deep sympathy over the attack which left a military base destroyed, adding: “We are here to sympathise and condole with the government and people of Yobe State over the unfortunate incident in Buni-Gari.”

In his remarks, Buni thanked the APC chairman and his delegation for the visit, saying it was a demonstration of true leadership and empathy.

“This visit is not just political, it is a clear sign of care. The attack in Buni-Gari is indeed a national concern.

“Insurgents are targeting military formations to steal arms, and these weapons could be used anywhere in the country,” Buni said.

He, however,  affirmed Ganduje’s call for a shift in strategy, emphasising that insurgency is evolving and penetrating different regions under various guises.

“This is a wake-up call for all of us. We must act fast, collectively, and with a sense of national duty,” he said.

Buni said the insecurity related issues would top the agenda at the upcoming Northern Governors’ Forum meeting in Kaduna, slated for May 10.

He assured the APC leadership that the governors would work with President Bola Tinubu to restore peace and stability in the region.

The governor also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting security agencies and collaborating with local communities toward tackling the threat of terrorism.

By Ahmed Abba

Conservationist urges joint biodiversity protection for healthy living

Michael Simire
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Conservationist urges joint biodiversity protection for healthy living

The Conservator of Park (CP), Old Oyo National Park, Tesleem Kareem, has called for collective efforts to protect the nation’s biodiversity and endangered species for healthier living.

Old Oyo National Park
Old Oyo National Park

Kareem, who stated this on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in an interview at the park in Oyo town, said that biodiversity, encompassing plants and animals, includes hydrological resources whose maintenance ensures that the surrounding and supporting communities get supplied with clean water.

According to him, the benefits of protecting biodiversity outweigh the immediate gratification that poachers or those engaging in illegal activities derive from their selfish acts.

“The trees they are cutting provide shade and ensure that the river is sustainable; all these would be theirs to enjoy.

“Then, for food security, the park’s resources have been the bedrock of those things that aid agriculture and crop planting across the villages.

“In terms of pollination, for crops to fruit and produce good yields, pollinators such as the insects are needed, and they are born within the park.

“They are the ones fertilising or pollinating most of the crops being planted,” he said.

He added that the park, with about 115 supporting communities, provides residents with about 95.6 per cent of the park’s employment opportunities.

These communities, he said, are spread across 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Oyo State.

Old Oyo National Park is about 2,512 square kilometres and connects towns such as Saki, Iseyin, Igboho, Sepeteri, Tede, Kishi, and Igbeti.

He underscored the need for more support from stakeholders, including kings and traditional rulers, to protect the park and promote its activities.

According to the CP, the park has greatly increased economic activities and enhanced cultural exposure and exchange of its immediate communities, hence the need to keep it existing and thriving.

“Tourists and students from all over the world come to the park for recreation, occupying most of our accommodations, hotels, and so on, sited by members of the communities.

“Even some of our members of staff working within the supporting communities get married to their residents.

“So, we are working together, employing, sensitising, and advising them to continue to partner with us,” said the CP.

Although he said the Federal Government had always supported the park’s activities, he asked for increased budgetary allocations.

Kareem said that while the funds were being used judiciously, more funding would be helpful because of the increasing tasks of the park, especially in the development of modern facilities.

He also called on individuals, private institutions and non-governmental organisations to partner with the park because of its uniqueness and overall benefits to humanity.

“Outside the fact that we are promoting, protecting, conserving, and preserving biodiversity, we are still promoting the culture of the people.

“So, we are appealing to all stakeholders, as this park, with its natural resources, is a capital-intensive organisation,” he said.

He assured that a viable partnership would bring about effective park management, guaranteeing a great future for the state and the country.

By Ibukun Emiola

SA communities challenge offshore oil project amid legal storm over environmental authorisation

Michael Simire
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SA communities challenge offshore oil project amid legal storm over environmental authorisation

As court hearings unfold this week in the Western Cape High Court, small-scale fishers and coastal communities from across the Northern and Western Cape in South Africa have united with civil society organisations, The Green Connection and Natural Justice (the applicants), to resist oil and gas exploration in Block 5/6/7 – a marine region critical to their survival.

West Cape Protest
The Green Connection’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Neville van Rooy, leads the chants for ocean justice alongside coastal activists. Communities demand an end to fossil fuel exploration that threaten their livelihoods.

Through the legal challenge, the applicants seek a judicial review of the Environmental Authorisation (EA) granted in 2023 to TotalEnergies for offshore drilling activities. They also fiercely oppose Shell’s bid to join the proceedings, raising urgent alarms over governance failures and environmental risks. The organisations are represented by environmental law firm, Cullinan & Associates Inc.

“This is not only a legal battle,” says small-scale fisher, Walter Steenkamp (Northern Cape), “it’s a fight to defend our livelihoods, our culture, and the ocean that sustains us. As small-scale fishers, we face so many challenges but yet we are excluded from decisions that directly impact our futures. Offshore oil and gas projects pose a huge threat to the marine ecosystems we rely on for food and income. But it’s not just about economics – fishing is in our blood. It’s who we are. Our traditions, our identity, and our knowledge of the sea have been passed down through generations. If we lose our ocean, we lose our heritage.”

South Africa’s coastal communities, who have historically been dispossessed and marginalised, are calling for decision-making processes that do not compound historic inequalities by ignoring the very people whose futures are most at risk. Communities say it is time to challenge decisions that threaten their livelihoods and deepen environmental injustice.

The Green Connection’s Strategic Lead, Liziwe McDaid, says: “It is so relevant that we are kicking-off these court proceedings just as Africa Month begins – especially with its call for ‘Justice for Africans through reparations’ – because this fight is about protecting our continent’s resources and people’s rights. If we consider the potential impacts of an oil spill or well blowout, it could decimate local fisheries that depend on them. Yet the EA was granted with no detailed blowout contingency plan. In our view, this undermines the principle of sound, inclusive governance.”

Another small-scale fisher, Deborah Mcquin (Western Cape), says: “We are trying to stop a disaster before there is a need for reparations – because once damage is done, it is often difficult or impossible to fully repair. You cannot compensate a community for a destroyed ocean or a lost way of life. Prevention must be our priority, and that starts with respecting rights and following the law.”

According to McDaid, there is no legal basis for Shell to be joined to the proceedings – which challenges the government’s approval of TotalEnergies’ (TEEPSA) proposed offshore drilling activities.

“Shell was neither part of the original EA application nor has there been any lawful transfer of the authorisation to the Dutch multinational. In fact, according to our calculations, the exploration right has already lapsed. Shell’s claim to a right that we believe no longer exists undermines proper environmental governance.”

Natural Justice Programme Manager, Melissa Groenink-Groves, further explains that Shell’s supposed interest in the matter is both premature and procedurally flawed. She says, “Total (or Shell) need both an exploration right and an environmental authorisation to conduct the exploration drilling. South African law permits only three renewals of an exploration right – each valid for two years – and that limit was reached in 2021. Their third renewal application should not be permitted to hang in perpetuity, just because Total waited until their third renewal to apply for its environmental authorisation.”

The Environmental Authorisation was granted in 2023 and, following an appeal to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, The Green Connection and Natural Justice launched a judicial review application in the Western Cape High Court in March 2024. This was to challenge the decisions of the Director-General and the Minister. In April this year (2025), Total filed a “joinder application”, seeking to include Shell as a party in the legal proceedings concerning block 5/6/7.

“The Environmental Authorisation (EA) was granted without properly assessing the devastating impact an oil spill could have on small-scale fishers, without accounting for climate change, and without making oil spill contingency plans available as part of the environmental impact assessment process.

“It failed to meet legal standards under our coastal management laws, ignored cross-border environmental risks for our neighbours in Namibia. The Minister, in her appeal decision, also mistook the input from the Petroleum Agency as that of the decision-maker. This is not good, strong environmental governance but rather seems like a recipe for disaster,” concludes Groenink-Groves.

The applicants argue that the government’s approval of the EA failed to assess the climate, ecological and socio-economic risks of offshore oil and gas activities, particularly on marginalised fishers who depend on marine health for survival. Dozens of small-scale fishers and coastal community members travelled from Northern and Western Cape to the Cape High Court to make their voices heard, while others held actions around the country, in solidarity.

“They ignore our voices and call it development. But how is it development if it destroys our livelihoods? Oil spills don’t care about borders. If there’s a blowout, it could wipe out our fish stocks, our tourism, everything. That’s not development – that’s devastation,” adds small-scale fisher, Emelin Mitchell (Western Cape).

Judgment has been reserved in the matter.

COP30: National, subnational leaders unite to advance climate action

Michael Simire
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COP30: National, subnational leaders unite to advance climate action

COP30 CEO, Ana Toni, on Tuesday, April 6, 2025, joined national and subnational government leaders at the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial to discuss the role of the CHAMP Coalition in delivering high-impact outcomes through urban climate initiatives. 

Ana Toni
COP30 CEO, Ana Toni

The Roundtable tagged “The CHAMP Opportunity: Roundtable on Multilevel Climate Action” showcased the practical benefits of involving cities and regions into national climate strategies. It demonstrated how multilevel cooperation can enhance policy effectiveness, accelerate the net zero transition, and support sustainable economic development.

The CEO of this year’s United Nations Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil, highlighted the Brazilian government’s own initiative to support local action: the recently launched Green and Resilient Model Cities program.me Other showcased examples were Colombia’s NDC participatory process, and the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLOCA) project from Kenya – the country has recently released its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) with strong multilevel governance focus. 

Ana Toni, COP30 CEO, said: “States and municipalities are on the frontlines of implementation: they deliver basic services to the population, manage infrastructure, and engage directly with communities. In response to the COP30 Presidency’s call for a Global Mutirão (Brazilian term originating from Tupi-Guarani meaning “collective action toward a shared goal.”) against Climate Change, subnational governments play a key role in implementing mitigation and adaptation measures, and are essential providers of climate solutions. Only through integrated, collective efforts can we tackle the climate emergency and protect future generations.”

The meeting was hosted by the Government of Denmark, in collaboration with the COP Presidencies of Azerbaijan (2024) and Brazil (November 2025), as part of the 2025 Copenhagen Climate Ministerial. The roundtable, moderated by Andy Deacon, Co-Managing Director of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), brought together all national government leaders attending the Ministerial, including Chilando Chitangala, Mayor of Lusaka, Zambia, representing the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) constituency.

Chilando Chitangala, Mayor of Lusaka, Zambia, said: “In Lusaka, we live the realities of climate change every day. Severe flooding and heatwaves continue to strain our infrastructure and services, but we are taking bold action to build resilience. Cities are on the frontlines, but we cannot act alone. We need to be part of the decisions that shape climate policy at every level. This is a vital step in ensuring that locally led solutions are implemented at scale. Without local climate action, global ambitions will remain out of reach.”

Ole Thonke, Denmark’s Climate Ambassador, said: “We’re proud to be among the early endorsers of CHAMP, and we see multilevel climate action as essential to delivering on our goals. Through different initiatives, agreements and partnerships, we are fostering dialogue and collaboration between government, industry, and local communities. With all 98 municipalities committed to developing and implementing climate plans, Denmark is showing how collaboration at all levels can drive real change — from accelerating the green transition in energy, transport and agriculture to setting new global standards with the world’s first livestock emissions tax. Together, we are proving that national targets are achieved through local leadership and shared responsibility.”

Also in attendance at the Roundtable were Gino van Begin, Secretary General of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and Pablo Vieira, Global Director of the NDC Partnership.

Coalition for High Ambition Multi-level Partnerships – CHAMP

Launched during COP28 in 2023, the Coalition for High Ambition Multi-level Partnerships (CHAMP) brings together national governments committed to working more collaboratively with their subnational governments in the design, financing and implementation of climate action. This includes the NDCs submission due at COP30, and other climate strategies such as National Adaptation Plans or Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS). To date, 75 national governments have endorsed the CHAMP coalition, committing to strengthening subnational climate action.

Andy Deacon, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) Co-Managing Director, said: “The roundtable is a pivotal moment to demonstrate how multilevel climate cooperation is already delivering results – and how the CHAMP Coalition is helping shape more inclusive, effective national climate plans. By bringing together national and subnational actors, we’re not just aligning policies with ambition – we’re building the foundations for implementing action that actually matters to change people’s lives. As we look beyond 2025, this collaborative approach will be key to driving effective progress on fighting the climate crisis.”

Gino Van Begin, ICLEI Secretary General, speaking as the Focal Point of the LGMA Constituency, said: “CHAMP has been an incredibly important strategy to embed multilevel action into the heart of national climate governance. Throughout 2025, ICLEI and the LGMA Constituency will mobilize to advance ambitious multilevel climate action by connecting cities and regions to new national climate plans through mechanisms like CHAMP, Town Hall COPs and the COP30 Urban Climate Ministerial together with the COP30 Cities and Regions Hub in Belém.”

Guidance Report: Increasing Finance for Subnational Climate Action

Earlier this year, C40 Cities and GCoM released a report, during the Green and Resilient Urbanshift Africa Forum 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya, titled How National Governments Can Increase Finance for Subnational Climate Action. This report was developed with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, as a resource for national government members CHAMP, to provide them with implementation options, proven financial techniques, and coordination frameworks that can significantly increase finance for subnational climate action – in line with their CHAMP pledge.

Access the full Report here. 

Power Shift Africa’s Adow lauds Kenya’s national climate plan

Michael Simire
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Power Shift Africa’s Adow lauds Kenya’s national climate plan

Power Shift Africa has welcomed the new national climate plan published by Kenya as part of its commitment to the Paris Agreement.

Mohamed Adow
Director of Power Shift Africa, Mohamed Adow

The plan, known as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), commits Kenya to reducing climate-heating greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2035, compared to a “business-as-usual scenario”.

The government has also committed to Kenya’s electricity being powered by 100% clean renewable energy, a response to the agreement negotiated at the COP28 summit in Dubai, as part of the Global Stocktake discussions.

Kenya calculates that embracing the country’s abundant clean energy potential of wind, solar and other renewables will cost $22.5 billion, with 20% delivered by the country through its own means and the remaining 80% reliant on international support such as climate finance and technology sharing from countries in the Global North.

On the issue of how Kenya will adapt to the climate crisis and deal with the loss and damage it causes, the plan outlines priority areas. These include managing the country’s resilience to water shortages, coping with disasters and reducing the impact of climate change on agriculture. The adaptation and loss and damage plan will cost $17.7 billion, with 19% covered domestically and the remaining 81% conditional on international support.

Mr. Mohamed Adow, Director of Power Shift Africa, said: “Despite only generating minimal carbon emissions, Kenya is demonstrating genuine climate leadership by strengthening its NDC with new targets that are more ambitious than its previous plan. This was the crucial design of the Paris Agreement; to see countries ratcheting up their emissions reductions every five years so that global action to tackle the climate crisis accelerates. This is a critical year. We need to see other countries now following Kenya’s example and submitting similarly ambitious plans.

“As a developing country, Kenya has limited resources to fund its energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables, whilst helping its people adapt to climate change. But it is showing the political will to go further. That is why it’s NDC is split into what it can achieve itself and a conditional element of how much further it can go with backing from the richer nations.

“It is accepted that the rich polluting countries that have caused the climate crisis owe a ‘climate debt’ to nations dealing disproportionately with extreme weather. That debt must be paid through international support which will boost climate action in developing countries and have a positive impact on global emissions and resilience to climate shocks.

“One area of concern, however, is Kenya’s intention to use carbon markets. These are ill thought through and are being exploited by polluting countries and their industries as a loophole for yet more pollution. If Kenya is to participate in any such scheme, it must protect community rights, prevent exploitation of land and prioritise environmental integrity and accountability.”

Find the full NDC plan here.

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